A 62-year-old man who was beaten up on the night of Sashthi (October 22) after he protested drinking in public by some of his neighbours in Garfa died on Thursday, five days after he was discharged from hospital.

His family has alleged that the man died because of the assault on Sashthi and have pressed the charge of murder. But the police are awaiting the post-mortem report to ascertain the cause of the death before slapping the murder charge.

Kanai Naskar, a resident of Garfa Mondal Para, and some of his family members had protested after seeing a group of neighbours drinking in the open on the night of October 22.

The police said Naskar was punched, kicked and beaten up with bamboo sticks, leaving him injured in his left chest, left forearm, nose and legs.

His family members — including son Choton Naskar, Akash Bahadur, Subrata, Babua and Abhijit — were also allegedly attacked.

Naskar was first taken to Baghajatin State General Hospital, from where he was shifted to SSKM Hospital. The police said Naskar was discharged from SSKM Hospital the next day after preliminary treatment.

Based on a complaint filed by Naskar’s son, Garfa police had started a case of attempt to murder, wilfully causing grievous hurt with sharp weapons and wrongful restraint against nine persons named in the FIR. Three of them were arrested.

Naskar was found unconscious in his room on Thursday and that triggered panic among his family members. He was rushed to SSKM Hospital, only to be told that he had passed away.

“They killed my husband. His only fault was that he had tried to stop criminal activity in the neighbourhood. His killers should be charged with murder,” said Manorama Naskar, the wife of the deceased.

Senior officers said they were awaiting the post-mortem report before amending the charges.

“Three persons have been arrested in connection with the case. We are looking for others as well. Once the post-mortem report comes, we will be able to ascertain whether the death was caused by the wounds inflicted on him on Sashthi or any other ailment,” said an officer of Garfa police station.